As corn begins to enter into the ear and kernel development stage across portions of the corn-growing region, insect concerns are also on the increase. The annual western bean cutworm flight is just beginning this growing season in a portion of the Plains states, with a few traps in Nebraska recording their first low western bean cutworm moths in the last week. As the flight intensifies in the coming weeks, corn that is silking and correspondingly producing kernels is at an increased threat for western bean cutworm damage. Growers with corn entering into or already in a critical growth stage especially located in the Plains but also in sandier soils of the Great Lakes region and other areas where this particular insect has been a problem in recent history should begin monitoring for this insect at this time.